4. Statement by the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales: Response to Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:01 pm on 22 April 2020.

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Photo of Mohammad Asghar Mohammad Asghar Conservative 5:01, 22 April 2020

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer.

Minister, thank you very much for your statement. My point is, my very good friend in the last two weeks passed away from coronavirus, and his son died this morning, and the second son is already in the ICU in the Royal Gwent Hospital. My question to you is that I am still very surprised that no Assembly Member has mentioned the bereaved families in Wales. What is the availability of financial support for those loved ones, who are not only their loved ones but also the breadwinners of the family? What is the financial assistance that is available to those families in these days?

And, secondly, I'm also involved and in touch with so many businesses who applied to the Welsh development bank for borrowing, and there is a standard letter coming to those businesses who have already been involved in business for so many years. They've submitted the accounts and everything, and a standard letter is coming to them that they don't meet the criteria. There are no contact details for these people to go back and ask them for the criteria.

There are quite a few other questions, Minister, but I think, because we're short of time, I think, on these two areas, I would like you to explain to me how you can help them.